May I thank The Times for the opportunity to express my opinion and to those Maltese who agree in principle with my comments.

I am pleased to witness such a lively debate.

I never attempted to dictate, only to say what I feel as one who cares for all of God's creatures. I spend my time and money trying to improve the conditions under which they exist. Of course I anticipated the "if you don't like the way we behave here, then go home" brigade. This is narrow-minded bigotry and only to be expected from xenophobic minorities.

I would support any person, no matter from what country, who stood up and fought for the rights of all creatures that are terrified by the petards, animals that have no voice and no alternative but to cringe, terrified in the nearest dark corner.

Every priest who collects money from his community to perpetuate this (fireworks) "tradition" is guilty before his God of continuing to treat God's creatures with contempt and without compassion.

Would the Catholic Church in Malta be prepared to tell us how much is collected annually to let off petards and terrify all animals? Do they consult those who donate money or is it just hidden in a general contribution in the "church plate for the summer feasts"?

The way I see it is that a minority of Maltese citizens contribute to these WWll re-enactments. They are licensed by the police because the Church supports this cruelty, all in the name of so-called "tradition".

The opinion of the majority, as it appears, from research, is that they are fed up with this wanton destruction of their lives and their rights to a peaceful existence. If this is disputed, let the press call for a referendum on the matter.

No convoluted questions need be asked, just: "Do you support the explosion of petards at religious festivals?"

Let one celebrate any religious event that is of meaning to one but we live in a pluralistic society.

I, and many like me, including the majority of Maltese, it seems, are being denied our rights to a peaceful existence. Such rights are being trampled upon.

If those who contribute to these ear-shattering performances cannot think of a better cause for their spare cash, then I believe it is a sad reflection on Maltese society.